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Legionnaires’ disease cases on the rise in Frederick County

By WTOP Staff

The number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Frederick County so far this year is higher than totals for the previous five years, though it is still relatively low, according to the Frederick County Health Department.

Darlene Armacost, program manager for communicable disease and preparedness at the Frederick County Health Department, said eight cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been diagnosed in the county so far this year, a slight increase over last year’s six cases and two reported cases in 2009.

The Howard County Health Department reported the death of an elderly man, a resident of the Lighthouse Senior Living facility in Ellicott City, during the past week.

So far, no other cases have been reported at the facility, a Howard County Health Department news release stated.

Statewide, 131 cases have been reported so far this year, Armacost said.

Over the past five years, a total of 27 cases have been reported in Frederick County.

Armacost said she was not certain what caused the increase this year.

Typically, the bacterium Legionella that causes the disease grows in water and can be found in community living settings, air-conditioning systems or shower heads, Armacost said. Older people and those with chronic lung disease or compromised immune systems are most at risk.

Lisa Gudmundson, communicable disease and outbreak nurse for the Frederick County Health Department, said one of the eight individuals was confirmed to have contracted the disease from an outbreak in an Ocean City hotel sometime in September or October.

Health officials do not consider any of the cases that have occurred this year in Frederick County to be outbreaks, Gudmundson said. About half of the cases occurred in community living settings. No deaths resulted from the infections, although Gudmundson said among the roughly 5 percent of people who contract the disease after being exposed to the bacteria, hospitalization is common.

Last September, two residents of the Tranquility Assisted Living Center in Frederick were hospitalized because of the disease.

Armacost said the county Health Department conducts extensive interviews and testing after a case of Legionnaires’ is discovered to try to identify the source.

Each year, between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized with the disease in the United States, although many infections are not diagnosed or reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The disease has symptoms similar to other forms of pneumonia, including high fever, chills and coughs, the CDC reports. Legionnaires’ disease can cause death in between 5 and 30 percent of cases.

People get the disease when they breathe in a mist or vapor containing Legionella, the CDC says. The bacteria are not spread from one person to another.

Copyright 2011 The Frederick News-Post. All rights reserved.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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